CROSSING OF A LIQUID-VAPOR BOUNDARY IN HYDROGEN BY NEGATIVE CHARGES

The current flowing across a surface of liquid hydrogen has been measu red as a function of the temperature and the polarity and magnitude of the applied voltage. Positive charges do not penetrate into the vapor from the liquid to any significant extent. Below 17 K, the temperatur e dependence of the current of negative charges can be described by an exponential function with an activation energy of 350+/-70 K. The exp erimental results imply that two types of negative charges, differing in structure, exist in the liquid hydrogen: electron bubbles and clust ers, which, like positively charged ion clusters, accumulate below the surface of the liquid. (C) 1994 American Institute of Physics.